You can be a matchmaker

Vote online for winners of Marriage on the Midway

You might think that getting married on the midway of your local county fair might not be the most ideal romantic setting for your wedding. But apparently a lot of people would disagree.

Love is, apparently, "in the fair!"

Beginning Wednesday, visitors to the fair's Web site, www.walworthcountyfair.com, can vote on their favorite couple who will be married in front of the Ferris wheel on Sept. 1.

For the past two years, North American Midway Entertainment has sponsored its "Marriage on the Midway Promotion" at several state fairs here in the United States as well as at provincial fairs in Canada, its home location.

"The idea came from the wife of our former company president," said Sandy Nitzsche, marketing coordinator for North American. "This will be the third year for the promotion."

And this year, the Walworth County Fair will be the site of one of the free weddings being given away by the Midway Entertainment company. It's the first time a county fair has been selected as the site for such an event, said Nitzsche.

"Sue (Pruessing) felt she could get good media coverage of the event, so we decided to include this fair as one of the eight different contests we'll sponsor this year," she said.

Here's the way it works: Contestants enter the contest by submitting an essay of 150 words or less on why they'd like to be married on the midway.

According to North American Midway Entertainment, judges will pick 10 top finalists from the entries and the essays will be posted on www.walworthcountyfair.com beginning August 15.

To select the 10 top finalists, judges will be looking for creativity, originality and, of course, sentimentality.

"At the Indiana State Fair last year we had 40 couples enter," said Nitzsche. "And in Manitoba at the Winnipeg Fair, we had over one million people vote for their favorite couple!"

Nitzsche said the winning couple will be married in front of the Ferris wheel by an official such as a justice of the peace or other person.

Winners will be notified on August 23. The winning couple will be notified by e-mail and/or telephone, and must respond within 1 business day after the contact.

Most of the wedding expenses will be covered, including $200 cash toward a bridal gown, a cake, $300 worth of flowers, invitations and three hours of unlimited rides and $10 worth of midway food for you and your guests, for a total value of more than $6,600.